Method of fabricating a release substrate

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a release substrate produced from semiconductor materials, and which includes a first substrate release layer having a surface in contact with a connecting layer, and a second substrate release layer having a surface in contact with the connecting layer opposite the first substrate release layer so that the connecting layer is located between the first substrate release layer and second substrate release layer; and a concentrated zone of solid nanoparticles located within the connecting layer to maintain the bonding energy of the reversible connection substantially constant even when the substrate is exposed to heat treatment while also facilitating breaking of the connecting layer by mechanical action.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/392,888 filed Feb. 25, 2009, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/481,696 filed Jul. 5, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,544,265, which is a continuation of International Application PCT/IB2005/000347 filed Jan. 24, 2005, the entire content of each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a release substrate produced from semiconductor materials.

The term “release substrate” means a substrate comprising two layers which have been associated together via a reversible connection, the connection between the two layers being breakable, typically by mechanical action. Thus, the action of breaking the connection between these layers corresponds to “releasing” the substrate.

Methods of releasing a substrate are already known. As an example, the fabrication of release substrates by bonding two layers is known, where the bonding conditions are defined so that the bonding energy remains limited and for this reason, the bonding is reversible under the effect of mechanical action.

U.S. patent application 2004/0222500 provides an example of such release substrates. The “energy” associated with a bonded interface, or more generally, with a releasing interface of a release substrate, is defined as corresponding to a cohesive force between the two layers defining that interface. That energy is generally characterized by mechanical resistance:

-   -   resistance to separating the two layers—typically under the         effect of inserting a wedge attacking the interface, and/or     -   resistance to delamination (applying tension to one of the two         layers defining the interface, and measuring the tensile stress         corresponding to the onset of delamination).

In many applications, treatments (for example anneal type heat treatments) have to be carried out on the release substrate prior to releasing it. It is known that heat treatment tends to increase the energy (i.e. the cohesive force) of a bonding interface between two layers. This is shown in prior art documents such as U.S. patent applications 2001/0016399 or 2003/0008475 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,909 which disclose heat treatments either for providing a gettering layer in the wafer or for enhancing the quality of the bonding interface in a wafer made from bonded substrates.

One problem which arises with such release substrates is that any treatments (in particular heat treatments) which are to be carried out on the release substrate prior to release may compromise the reversible nature of the “release” bond of the substrate, rendering release problematical. Certain heat treatments can weaken the bond so that release occurs when not desired, while others can actually strengthen the bond making it more difficult to release the substrates when desired. These problems are not limited to release substrates in which the reversible connection is constituted by bonding. In general, applying an anneal type heat treatment to release substrates having a reversible connection that has been formed using any technique (bonding, and other techniques—for example, creating a porous region, etc) risks modifying the energy associated with the reversible connection of the substrate so that release does not occur when desired. This is a problem which is now solved by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides for the production of release substrates which, prior to releasing, can undergo treatments (for example, anneal type heat treatments) without substantially affecting the energy of the reversible connection of the release substrate. In particular, the invention provides a method of fabricating a release substrate of semiconductor materials, by forming a reversible connection between two substrate release layers by providing a connecting layer of a first material, and providing a concentrated zone of nanoparticles of a second material in the connecting layer to facilitate release of the substrate release layers. With this method, the connecting layer has a bonding energy that is substantially constant even when the release substrate is exposed to heat treatments to facilitate the release of the substrate release rates when desired and not at other times.

The connecting layer can be formed by a number of ways as set forth in the following detailed description. The segregation heat treatment is carried out at a temperature on the order of 900° C. to 1100° C. for a sufficient time to form the nanoparticles and optionally in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen, argon or mixtures thereof

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, benefits and advantages of the present invention become clear from the following description of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a release substrate fabricated in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c diagrammatically show three steps for producing the release substrate in accordance with a first implementation of the invention;

FIGS. 3 a to 3 d diagrammatically show four steps for producing the release substrate in accordance with a second implementation of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show the effect of a heat treatment which can cause nanoparticle segregation and which can be used in the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a phase diagram showing different Si, SiO and SiO₂ domains as a function of temperature, showing a thermodynamic change which can be exploited in the context of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention thus provides a method which specifically aims at fabricating a release substrate comprising two layers connected through a reversible connection. This method preferably comprises forming the reversible connection by a connecting layer obtained from a first material, with the connecting layer further comprising a concentrating zone of nanoparticles of a second material disposed to facilitate release of the substrate. The first and second materials are selected to maintain the energy associated with the reversible connection substantially constant even when the substrate is exposed to heat treatment to facilitate release. Preferred but non-limiting aspects of the method of the invention are as follows:

-   -   the connecting layer is formed by carrying out the following         operations:         -   creating an initial layer produced from the first material;         -   creating in the initial layer an enriched region of an             enrichment material, which may be the second material or a             precursor for the second material;         -   heat treating the enriched region to cause segregation of             nanoparticles within the first material;     -   the enriched region is produced by implanting the enrichment         material into the initial layer;     -   production of the connecting layer involves the following steps         (without limitation to the order in which the steps are carried         out):         -   forming an elemental layer, termed the enriched layer, from             an enrichment material which may be the second material or a             precursor for the second material;         -   heat treating the enriched layer to cause segregation of             nanoparticles within the first material;     -   to form the connecting layer, a layer termed the “first         elemental layer” also formed from the first material is formed         beneath the enriched layer, the enriched layer then         corresponding to a layer termed the “second elemental layer”;     -   the second elemental layer is produced by deposition onto the         first elemental layer;     -   the first elemental layer is produced by deposition onto a first         substrate release layer;     -   the first elemental layer is produced on a first substrate         release layer by thermal oxidation;     -   to form the connecting layer, a layer termed the “third         elemental layer” also formed from the first material is formed         on the surface of the enriched layer;     -   the third elemental layer is produced by deposition onto the         enriched layer;     -   the third elemental layer is produced by thermal oxidation of a         portion of the material of the enriched layer;     -   the thickness of the enriched layer is gauged so that a portion         of the material of the layer can be used to form the third         elemental layer;     -   the third elemental layer is formed on the second release layer         prior to assembling the second release layer with the connecting         layer;     -   the third elemental layer is produced by thermal oxidation of         the second substrate release layer prior to assembling the         second release layer with the remainder of the connecting layer;     -   the segregation heat treatment is carried out at a temperature         of the order of 900° C. to 1100° C. for a sufficient time of         about 25 to 95 minutes to provide the nanoparticles and         preferably in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen, argon or mixtures         thereof;     -   the connecting layer is created on a first of the two substrate         release layers, and the second release layer is formed on the         connecting layer after the segregation heat treatment step;     -   the connecting layer is created on a first of the two substrate         release layers, and the second release layer is formed on the         connecting layer after creating an enriched region in the         connecting layer and before the segregation heat treatment step;     -   the first release layer is formed beneath the connecting layer         by means of a transfer technique;     -   the transfer technique is a SMART-CUT® type technique;     -   the second release layer is formed on the connecting layer by         means of a transfer technique;     -   the transfer technique is a SMART-CUT® type technique;     -   the first material may be SiO₂;     -   the second material may be Si;     -   the enrichment material may be SiO;     -   the second material may be Ge.

Before embarking on the detailed description of the drawings, it should be noted that FIGS. 1, 2 a to 2 c, 3 a to 3 d are diagrammatic representations which are not to scale, but which illustrate the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a release substrate 10 fabricated in accordance with the invention. The release substrate comprises:

-   -   two layers 11 a, 11 b which correspond to two layers which can         be detached. These two layers are termed below “substrate         release layers”. The layers may be formed from a semiconductor         material such as silicon;     -   a connecting layer 12 which acts as a reversible connection         between the layers 11 a, 11 b for the release substrate 10. The         connecting layer 12 is produced from a “first material”, for         example a material such as SiO₂;         -   solid particles 13 should also be noted at the core of the             connecting layer 12, which particles correspond to             nanoparticles, as shall be seen. The solid nanoparticles 13             are organized into a zone of concentration within the first             material which facilitates release of the substrate 10 at             the connecting layer 12;         -   the nanoparticles 13 are produced from a “second material”             which differs from the “first material” mentioned above. As             an example, it may be a semiconductor material such as Si or             Ge when the first material is SiO₂.

It should be emphasized that the term “nanoparticles” as used here means solid particles of very small size—on the order of a few nanometers (nm) to a few tens of nanometers. In one application of the invention, the diameter of the nanoparticles is typically of the order of 1 nm to 10 nm. The “zone of concentration” of the nanoparticles corresponds to a zone in which the majority of nanoparticles are concentrated.

It should be pointed out that in general, it is possible to produce the release layers 11 a, 11 b from any semiconductor material. In the same manner, the layer 12 and the nanoparticles 13 can be produced from a material that differs from those mentioned above. In any event, the material of the nanoparticles 13 (“second material”) is different from the material of the connecting layer 12 (“first material”). The two materials are selected to ensure that the mechanical properties of the connecting layer 12 are stable when the substrate 10 undergoes a heat treatment prior to detaching (this aspect is described in more detail below).

The connecting layer 12 is formed:

-   -   by creating a layer, termed the initial layer, in the first         material, which forms the basis for the connecting layer 12         (SiO₂ in the present example);         -   the initial layer may be created directly on the layer 11 b,             for example by deposition or thermal oxidation;     -   by forming a region 120 termed the enriched region in the         thickness of the initial layer;         -   to this end, a region comprising a material termed the             enrichment material is formed in the thickness of the layer             12;         -   the material may be the second material mentioned above             corresponding to the nanoparticle material, or a precursor             for the second material. The term “precursor” for the second             material means a material that can produce the second             material after a suitable heat treatment, such as a             semiconductor oxide. In the case in which the second             material is Si, the precursor is typically SiO or SiO₂;     -   by carrying out a heat treatment on the enriched region 120 (or         122 as can be seen in the second implementation of the         invention) to cause nanoparticles of the second material to         segregate within the layer 12 based on the first material;         -   at the end of this heat treatment, the second release layer             11 a may be formed, covering the connecting layer 12, to             finalize fabrication of the release substrate 10.

In all of the implementations of the invention, the layer 11 a may also be formed after creating the enriched region 120 but before heat treating the enriched region 120 to cause nanoparticle segregation therein. It should be pointed out that the segregation process is described in more detail below, more particularly with reference to FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 5.

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show the principal steps employed in the invention in accordance with a first implementation. FIG. 2 a shows the formation of an initial layer of SiO₂ on a layer 11 b of silicon, for example by deposition of SiO₂ or thermal oxidation of Si.

FIG. 2 b shows one manner of enriching the initial layer. In this implementation, enrichment is achieved by implantation I into the initial layer covering the layer 11 b. The implanted species corresponds to the second material mentioned above, or to a precursor for the second material. Thus, for example, it may be silicon or germanium. At the end of the implantation, the implanted species (silicon atoms, for example) are distributed in a substantially regular manner and aggregated to a greater or lesser extent within the thickness of the initial layer of SiO₂.

The structure shown in FIG. 2 b then undergoes segregation heat treatment. In this implementation, as in the other implementations of the invention, the segregation heat treatment may be carried out at a temperature on the order of 900° C. to 1100° C. It should be recalled that the segregation heat treatment is explained in more detail below. At the end of the segregation heat treatment, a structure such as that shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 c is obtained. The segregation heat treatment causes segregation of the implanted species (for example silicon), forming the nanoparticles. After covering the structure with a second release layer 11 a (for example by deposition of the desired material or by bonding the layer thereto), a release substrate of the type shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 d show steps in accordance with a second implementation of the invention. In this implementation, the connecting layer is formed by producing successive different elemental layers in the substrate release layer 11 b. It should be noted that in a variation, it is possible to provide just one “elemental layer” (in this case, the single elemental layer is the layer 122—see below).

In this second implementation, the elemental layers (or the elemental layer 122 in the case in which only a single elemental layer is used) form the connecting layer of the substrate on the release layer 11 b. In this implementation, as in all of the implementations of the invention, the other release layer 11 a is then assembled with the connecting layer—for example by transferring the layer 11 a to the connecting layer, by bonding. It should, however, be pointed out that, in all of the implementations of the invention, it is also possible to form the second release layer directly on the connecting layer (by deposition, or by any other known technique for producing the layer).

FIG. 3 a shows the formation of a first elemental layer 121. The layer 121 may be formed directly onto the layer 11 b, for example by thermal oxidation, or by other means (for example deposition). The first elemental layer is produced from the first material defined above, namely SiO₂ in the present example.

FIG. 3 b shows the formation of a second elemental layer 122, by covering the first elemental layer 121. This second elemental layer 122 is produced from the enrichment material mentioned above, namely the second material (Si or Ge, for example), or a precursor for the second material. The layer 122 thus corresponds to the enriched region of the connecting layer. The second elemental layer 122 can be deposited on the layer 121, if desired. A third elemental layer 123 is then formed on the surface of the layer 122, which third elemental layer is produced from the same material as the first elemental layer 121. The third elemental layer can be produced by deposition onto the second elemental layer. It should be pointed out that other methods for associating the layer 123 with the layer 122 can also be envisaged (thermal oxidation, bonding, etc). In the case in which the layer 123 is produced on the layer 122 using a technique such as thermal oxidation, which involves consumption of part of the material of the subjacent layer 122 (consumption of part of the Si of layer 122 to form the SiO₂ of layer 123), the thickness of the layer 122 will have been gauged so that its thickness is sufficient to provide the material necessary to carry out the technique for producing the layer 123.

By the successive formation of the three elemental layers 121, 122, 123, a layer 12 is thus created in which the layer 122 corresponds to the enriched region. Heat treatment is then carried out to cause segregation in the enriched region, as was the case for the first implementation described above. This forms a structure as shown in FIG. 3 d, in which the connecting layer 12 comprises a zone for concentrating nanoparticles 13 of the second material, following the segregation heat treatment.

It should be pointed out that in this second implementation of the invention, it is possible to dispense with the first elemental layer 121 and/or the third elemental layer 123. Overall, then, in the second implementation, it is possible to produce several structural configurations, depending on the number of elemental layers in the connecting layer (1, 2 or 3 elemental layers).

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b originate from an article by M. Zacharias et al, published in Applied Physics Letters, 80 (4), 2002, p 661. More particularly, these figures show the state of the layer corresponding to the connecting layer prior to segregation heat treatment (enriched region 120 of FIG. 4 a) and after the treatment (region of the finished connecting layer 12 which comprises the nanoparticle concentration zone, in FIG. 4 b). The scales are shown in the bottom right hand corners of the two figures.

FIG. 4 a thus shows an enriched region 120 composed of SiO₂ enriched with silicon atoms. This enriched region 120 may, for example, have been formed as follows:

-   -   by implanting silicon into an initial layer of SiO₂ (first         implementation of the invention); or     -   by forming an elemental layer which corresponds to the region         120 (second implementation of the invention).

In all cases, a silicon-enriched layer with the following mean composition is formed within the thickness of a layer of SiO₂: Si_((1-x))O_(x), in which X is in the range 0 to 0.68. This figure shows that the SiO is diffused into the mass of the layer 120.

FIG. 4 b shows the same region of the section after a segregation anneal at 1100° C. for a period of one hour in a neutral nitrogen atmosphere. This figure shows that the SiO is no longer present in the diffused state. In contrast, the magnified section of this figure highlights discrete solid aggregates which are separated from each other. The aggregates correspond to solid silicon nanoparticles in the SiO₂, which corresponds to the base material for the connecting layer 12 (“first material”). These solid nanoparticles precipitate out of the solid solution/mixed solid phase of Si or SiO and SiO₂ as explained in more detail below. The solid nanoparticles constitute discrete points of weakness which allow good local detachment at the layer 12. In contrast, the configuration after segregation is extremely stable as regards heat treatments which may be carried out before detaching the layer 12 (and more generally a substrate 10 comprising the layer 12).

The segregation heat treatment preferably uses the following segregation equation:

$\left. {SiO}_{x}\rightarrow{{\frac{x}{2}{SiO}_{2}} + {\left( {1 - \frac{x}{2}} \right){{Si}.}}} \right.$

In the case in which x=1, this equation corresponds to segregation of SiO into SiO₂ and Si.

As explained with reference to FIG. 5, subsequent heat treatments do not affect the general configuration of the solid nanoparticle concentration zone in the “first material” of the connecting layer 12. FIG. 5 shows a phase diagram indicating stable domains for various silicon compounds. FIG. 5 shows, as a function of temperature (up the ordinate), the stability domains of the solid phases of Si, SiO and SiO₂ (the abscissa shows the percentage of oxygen in the Si). It can be seen that below a temperature Ts, termed the segregation temperature, the solid phases of Si, SiO and SiO₂ can co-exist without segregation. In the case of silicon, the segregation temperature is slightly below 1100° C.

Beyond this temperature Ts, the Si and SiO₂ phases separate by segregation. SiO does not have a stable state beyond this temperature. The invention astutely exploits these properties. This is achieved during segregation heat treatment, illustrated by the changes between points A and C in FIG. 5:

-   -   the starting point for the segregation heat treatment         corresponds to point A. The point corresponds to a state at         ambient temperature at which an enriched region 120, which can         be produced from silicon-enriched SiO₂, has been formed;     -   the temperature is then raised to a temperature B which         corresponds to segregation heat treatment. This temperature         increase causes the Si or SiO present in the SiO₂ to segregate         from the SiO₂. During the heat treatment, the temperature is         increased to the segregation temperature Ts;     -   once the temperature Ts is reached (point C), segregation         between the Si or SiO on the one hand and the SiO₂ on the other         hand is complete and the Si or SiO which was present in the         diffused state in the SiO₂ is aggregated into solid Si         nanoparticles.

Furthermore, subsequent heat treatments do not modify the nanoparticle configuration, as the segregation reaction is not reversible.

The solid nanoparticles precipitate out of the solid (mixed phase) solution formed by the Si or SiO and the SiO₂ in the enriched layer when the temperature Ts is reached. Precipitation of these solid nanoparticles form a two phases region in the connecting layer 12 that is stable with regards to subsequent heat treatments. The segregation of the solid nanoparticles 13 introduces discrete points of weakness to the connecting layer 12. The introduction of discrete points of weakness forms a breakable connection that facilitates release of the substrates typically by mechanical action.

Thus, a release substrate fabricated using the technique has a substantially constant energy between its release layers, regardless of the heat treatments which such a substrate undergoes prior to releasing, but may be broken by mechanical action. The implementations of the invention offer a number of possibilities:

-   -   the possibility of carrying out surface treatments (e.g.,         planarization, etc) on the various layers prior to bonding those         layers;     -   the possibility of carrying out the segregation heat treatment         at different stages of the method:         -   immediately after forming the enriched layer (it should be             recalled that in the context of the second implementation,             this enriched layer corresponds to the elemental layer 122);         -   after the connecting layer has been finalized and prior to             forming the release layer 11 a on the connecting layer (for             example after implanting enrichment material in the first             implementation, or after forming the ensemble of elemental             layers in the second implementation);         -   after forming the release layer 11 a on the connecting             layer; (it is possible to split the segregation heat             treatment into several heat treatment steps carried out at             several of the stages mentioned above—any combination of             modes of implementing the segregation heat treatment steps             is possible);     -   the possibility of cleaning the surface of the exposed layers         between each step;     -   the possibility of implementing different types of techniques to         form release layers 11 a and 11 b of the desired thickness:         -   transfer methods—in particular of the SMART-CUT® type             employing one or more weakening implantation steps using one             or more species, bonding and detachment at the implanted             zone;             -   in this respect, the layer 11 b can be formed:                 -   prior to forming the connecting layer (and the layer                     11 b can be formed on a temporary stiffener if its                     thickness does not allow it to be treated without a                     support means);                 -   or after forming the connecting layer, by transfer                     onto the lower face (that facing the bottom of the                     figures) of the connecting layer of a substrate                     weakened by implantation in which the thin layer                     bonded to the connecting layer will correspond to                     the layer 11 b b after detachment of the substrate                     at the implanted zone;             -   the layer 11 a which is then formed on the connecting                 layer can itself be formed by bonding a substrate                 weakened by implantation onto an intermediate structure                 composed of the layer 11 b and the connecting layer,                 then detachment of the substrate at the implanted zone                 to leave on the intermediate structure only the portion                 of the implanted substrate corresponding to the layer 11                 a;         -   BESOI type methods employing bonding and removal of material             from the back face (which can be carried out to form the             layer 11 a on the already formed connecting layer);     -   the possibility of using different materials to produce the         first elemental layer 121 and/or the third elemental layer 123         (in the context of the second implementation): not only SiO₂,         but also materials such as Si₃N₄ can be employed.

The skilled artisan of course recognizes that the SMART-CUT® technique is well known layer transfer technique that is published in various documents including the article by A. J. Auberton-Herve et al entitled “Why Can SMART-CUT® Change the Future of Microelectronics?”, International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems, Vol. 10, no. 1, 2000, pages 131-146. Generally, this layer transfer technique comprises implantation of ions in a source substrate to form a weakened zone followed by bonding of the source substrate to a substrate that is to receive the layer, followed by detachment of the layer from the source substrate at the weakened zone to transfer it to the receiving substrate.

Also, the term “deposition” as used herein can include epitaxial growth of a semiconductor material or CVD or other layer deposition processes. 

1. A structure comprising: a first substrate release layer having a surface in contact with a connecting layer, and a second substrate release layer having a surface in contact with the connecting layer opposite the first substrate release layer so that the connecting layer is located between the first substrate release layer and second substrate release layer; and a concentrated zone of solid nanoparticles located within the connecting layer to facilitate breaking of the connecting layer by mechanical action.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrate release layers are made of semiconductor material, the connecting layer is made of an oxide or nitride of the semiconductor material of the substrate release layers, and the solid nanoparticles are made of a semiconductor material that is different from the material forming the connecting layer.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting layer and concentrated zone of nanoparticles are stable and do not weaken when the structure is exposed to heat treatment, but the connecting layer can be broken at the concentrated zone of nanoparticles by mechanical action.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting layer comprises SiO₂ and the nanoparticles comprise Si or Ge.
 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting layer has a bonding energy that is substantially constant even when the release substrate is exposed to heat treatments as high as 900° C. to 1100° C.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles have diameters on the order of 1 nm to 10 nm. 